LBT Festive Fayre

I've spent today selling my wares at the Lawrence Batley Theatre's Festive Fayre. I've done so well I'm going to have to work very hard to make some more stock for another fair next weekend! I've met some lovely people today, had a good old natter with the WI ladies (not what you think of when someone says Women's Institute!) and, best of all, finally got the hang of crochet! I cannae believe it, it's a miracle! Thank you to everyone who came along to support me, I have such good friends and family! Love, Truly Scrumpy x

Masters of Lace

I have just returned from a flying trip to Brugge, Belgium as my birthday treat from the wonderful man in my life. Brugge is famous for its chocolatiers, but not as widely known are its genius lace makers. They is shop after shop of intricately crafted lace pieces: antique lace fans, umbrellas, collars, doilies, scent sachets and napkins galore.

This has inspired me to look at other things you can do with lace...

Carol Forsyth

Stop Motion Brilliance

Greetings neglected readers!

I've had my mind on a million trillion and one things lately (which is good as I like being busy!) and haven't posted anything in quite a while now. I feel very guilty and determined to put it right! To update you, I've been working on co-writing my first play, 'Bed Stories', and planning some short films and animation projects for 2011. My other half has really got into clay modelling in preparation for some short stop motion animations that are in the pipe-line. It' s very exciting to see his creations come to life, they're just magical. Hopefully he'll let me put some pics up when he's finished a few.

In the meantime, I've been doing a lot of youtube based research on different types of stop motion. I thought I might share a few of my favourites with you.

Travel Diary, Entry 3

Sunday 8th August-

Continental breakfast of Nutella croissant (!), a plum and grapes and a heavenly chocolate cappuchino, 9.30am. Took the bus into Firenze's centro storico. 1st stop- Basillica della San Giovanni. Domed ceilings, heavenly frescos (literally) and a few of the most beautiful mosiacs I've ever seen before. As we emerged, we could see the Duomo's Dome jutting out over all the other buildings. We strolled out into the piazza from the narrow street and my jaw dropped to the floor with a resounding clunk. The awe-inspiring white and jade tiled exterior was so multi-faceted it became hard to look at very quickly; the mind just couldn't take in all the intricate detailing all at once. Martin and I joined the mid-length queue and snatched glances at the over-whelming sculpted entrance whenever we dared let our mind wheel with giddyness. After a while, we noticed the queue was going down substantially ever 5 minutes or so and upon reaching the front we realised why....the dome didn't open until 1.30pm....and it was only 12 o'clock. Because there was a queue, everyone assumed it was open. We tried to tell a few people behind us but the queue was massive by then and there were still people there when we walked past half an hour later.

We found our way eventually to the famous leather markets, full of hawkers of trashy tack and stall holders that jump on you as soon as your head turns in their direction. After being very rudely spoken to when declining to buy a hat from one of the vendors, I decided to only buy from stalls where I could browse unobserved.

After a quick sandwich, we ventured down to the notorious Ponte Vecchio, the house-holding bridge, and across the other side of the river, to gulp down a long overdue Bira Moretti and rest our aching feet.

After a lovely meal of Ravioli alla Pecorino e Pere in walnut sauce, and many cheeky snatched mouthfuls of Martin's Spaghetti alle Cozze (mussels), we drove down to see Michaelangelo's David and the stunning view over the twinkling city at night.

Travel Diary, Entry 2

Saturday 7th, early hours

Arrived at port 2:45am. Drove through the dark until sunrise. Watched sun washing French fields in a rosy morning glow. Crossed over border into Switzerland around 11am. Beautiful country. Giant hills loom like black shadowy giants to the left and right of us. The contrast between these sleeping mountains and the golden green fields is stunning. Stopped at the nicest service station I've ever been to: vegetable garden complete with grape vines, mini hedged maze, crescent moon of picnic benches where we met two very strange long-legged birds; sort of a cross between storks and flamingoes, very shy and jumpy but too fond of crusts and crumbs to stay away.

The Alps were breath-taking- you can't imagine the haunting heights of these snow-capped mountains until you've been dwarfed beneath them in your tiny, vulnerable tin car, straining your neck peering into the clouds. Through Gotthard tunnel- 17km- the 2nd longest in the world. Nearly died of claustrophobia! Took us 15 whole minutes before I beheld blue skies and open air once more! On the other side we crossed into Italy on the sparkling shores of Lake Como- lucky Mr Clooney to have a villa here!

Getting quite tired now, felt like it's taken an age just to reach Bologna. Slept for

a bit and when I woke, we were heading towards Firenze Sud (south of Florence) and trying to work out where in this huge city we were staying! Rosary Gardens was a very nice hotel. Never stayed in a room with champagne and a safe! Bed rock hard (Martin's idea of the perfect bed, my idea of a good brick wall) but thumbs up for sheer size; boiling hot shower was the most incredible experience after 28 hours of driving! Before bed (or rather, passing out), went for dinner at a restaurant next door the hotel. Had my fave pizza, quattro stagioni (four seasons), unfortunately senza alichie (or however you spell anchovies in Italian!). Bed at 11.45. Crash.

Travel Diary, Entry 1

Friday 6th August

Set off from Holmfirth for the port of Dover at 3.45pm. After a 6 hour drive, with thankfully hardly any traffic, we arrived well ahead of time and took our place at the front of the cue for the 11.55pm ferry to Calais. While we waited, we (I say we, I mean the 'men') puzzled over how/where to position our headlight stickers and GB sticker, as our Renault Megane Hatchback was nowhere to be seen on the list of hundreds and hundreds of European cars!

......

Ferry= huge. Funny to think that there were at least 10 or so big lorries in the car hold! Definitely don't have sea legs. I'm stumbling around like a drunkard with little yellow birdies flapping round my head. Shops very nice but duty free still expensive. Must sleep to prevent being sick. Hopefully.

Warehouse Weekend

For the last few days, weeks, months I've been working alongside my associate theatre company Threadneedle to find acting, writing and designing talent in and around Huddersfield to take part in the first ever Huddersfield Arts Festival, the Warehouse Weekend. As the name suggests, the event took place in a mill, a huge concrete and breeze-block environment that complemented Threadneedle's ethos very well- taking theatre out of the theatre and encouraging un-arty types to get involved. We had an amazing day, constantly being surprised by the sheer amount of hidden talent in Huddersfield. There was a lounge area created by the Fresh Kids where you could make your mark in black paint on the white panelled walls, a light bar made of huge water canisters that changed colour using a touchscreen on the bar, a stunning bamboo maze, a theatre and film corner featuring experimental film, physical theatre, dance and mime, an exhibition of 1000 hand painted beermats and so much more! Thank you to everyone who took part and those who came to show their support, you really made the day wonderful.

Buzz

Greetings neglected followers. I've been absent for a while. First, a road trip from England across France and Switzerland to Italy. Once I returned, a move from my parents into my boyfriends humble abode. Now, an arts festival to co-ordinate.

Never fear, I plan to recreate my expeditions around Europe over the next few posts through a series of travel diaries and photo journals.

I was so in need of a holiday before I went away in August. Finally, trying to juggle earning some money, starting a business, crafting everyday and keeping track of theatre company stuff in the evenings had begun to take its toll and is proving a tricky beast to overcome. To be very honest (baring all here!), the last few weeks have been hard. I seem to have lost my way and I suppose my sense of self. I'm not sure where I'm going with my business anymore. I feel as if I am attempting something in a very talent crowded environment (deja vu of my experiences in acting, yet dissimilar in the fact with acting I got sick of seeing talentless people succeed). I look on blogs and amazing crafter websites and I see skills that far surpass my own and I think, 'who am I kidding? what do I possibly hope to achieve here??' I absolutely love knitting. It is my haven from the stresses of everyday life. And yet, there are so may people who are light years ahead of me in terms of mastering the techniques. Yet, I'm only young. I must give myself time to learn.

Amongst all this confusion and sense of exclusion from others, I have experienced some of the happiest moments of my life. I am finally waking up every morning with the man I am crazy about. He is my strength and I know that anything could happen to me in life, and I would still count myself extremely lucky because I have the love of an extremely genuine, honest, warm man who will always stand by me. We have been through a lot together and I feel we are stronger than ever right now. It makes me inexpressibly happy just to make him his dinner when he comes home from work.

With times of strife also come the times when you learn who you can really rely on. You may absolutely adore some of your friends but I bet you only one or two can be counted on whenever you need them, absolutely every time. The majority of my friends haven't a clue that I've not been good recently. I have resolved to work hard to maintain my close relationships and be more discerning when I'm being used, which I often find hard to discern.

I have a lot of resolutions this month. I've given myself a tall order but I'm also not going to be too hard on myself. Although I feel I have lost some of my personal sense of self, I feel I am discovering my identity with fashion. What I truly like and what suits me. For instance, my craves this A/W....Raccoon beanie, River Island

Parka, River Island

Boots, River Island

Thanks for listening. I think I really needed that.

Disappointing

Difference in size

Difference in colour

Difference in heel height

I must apologise for my absence in blogging lately, I've had a lot on my plate and I must admit my juggling of everything in life is starting to take it's toil on me...and I think this may be just the beginning!

Anyway, I thought I would update you after my last happy post about my 'fantastic' ebay purchase of a pair of Steve Madden wedges. Here is the result....an odd pair of shoes. One was literally a size, if not two sizes bigger than the other. When I emailed the seller upon receiving the package, she claimed she had no idea what I was talking about and that the shoes were an exact pair....so I took these pictures in evidence. There can be no doubt they aren't the same size, seriously! I sent them back and received a full refund but felt I should be honest in the feedback I left so no-one else would make the mistake of buying these shoes. And in return for not reporting her, I've just received a very childish, snotty email telling me I'm an 'awful, horrible' person for not giving her good feedback! The cheek! My trust in buying from Ebay has seriously been dented, I was so upset, and on top of everything to be sent abusive emails!

Tut tut tut.

Hopefully, I won't be going on holiday without wedges, I have a plan yet! Watch this space.

New Shoes

I've been searching for the perfect pair of wedges/clogs/espadrilles for my road trip to Italy for weeks now, and I've finally found the perfect pair. Where, you ask. On Ebay, of course. And, oh my word did I get a bargain. I paid a whole 6 english pounds (hard earned pounds, mind you!) for a gorgeous pair of Steve Madden tan leather espadrille wedges...

After some detective work, I came across the website...I am in love with so many pair of shoes that I may eventually need sedating. And I got such a bargain! Here's a few of my favourites. And below is one of my much admired bloggers, Lulu Letty, wearing a very similar pair to the ones I have recently purchased. I cannot wait to get my parcel in the post. There will be plenty of footsie photos, I can guarantee.

Urban Textiles

I am writing this with my eyes fixed firmly on the computer screen to avoid looking out the window at the storm raging around me. Okay, I may exaggerate an eensy weensy bit, but that's more rain than I've seen in all my 19 years and the lightning is of the the brightest azure blue. I'm not a massive fan of thunderstorms. I don't like saying they scare me because I know I'm not 8 years old, but I certainly feel the need for the protective arm of my loved one, and he never seems to be around when there's a storm!

Anyway, back to what I was actually posting. I was looking for some new shoes on Urban Outfitters yesterday for my globe trot road trip to Italia the week after next (ee) and I stumbled across their new textiles range. The scoundrels. It seems, and correct me if I'm being paranoid here, that whenever I have a spark of genuis regarding a design, Outfitters read my mind and get there before me. Their range of feather headpieces are alarmingly similar to mine (which were created first!) and I've been brewing ideas for patchwork duvetcovers and bunting incorporated cushion covers for the past few months and now I feel crushed. Sad times. Nevertheless, I will continue to endevour to be unique and individual and shy away from the mainstream...unless it gets there first.

Inspiration Hunt

Jewelera

Mama's Little Babies

LoucheLab

Neva Plume

Sigh. Today has been completely lacking in drive, motivation and inspiration. I'd originally set aside my day off to work on the Truly Scrumpy website, but yet again I sat down to work and within 5 minutes was tearing my hair out. So, I cyber tip-toed over to Etsy and scrolled through a few of my favourite shops (and a few suggested favourites, a feature I hadn't taken advantage of before) to get my creative mind cogs whirring in order to soothe my aching soul with a bit of craft therapy.

Unordinarily, I'm not feeling like trying my hand at anything today. Maybe I should see someone. This is truly irregular and I'm not enjoying it. I'm going to have a bash at making some mini knitted bunting for a new cushion cover idea I want to try out. I may have to wrap the wool round myself and the chair first, but here's hoping I'll be able to settle down...for a while at least.

Cushions

The first five cushions in the new Truly Scrumpy cushion range. They'll be having their debut at the Bizarre Bazaar tomorrow. The squid is my baby, took me the longest and I don't know if I can let him go. Let's hope I find a nice family to adopt him and treasure him for life. How ever long squids live...

Business Cards

Now we're talking! Truly Scrumpy business cards arrived in the post yesterday, just in time for Sunday. Hoorah! I am one excited little lady. What do you think? I can't stop looking at them.
I purchased them from a company called Moo. Really nifty site, they also do stickers, mini cards and postcards. I got 50 of these for around 15 quid, including VAT and postage and packaging. I highly recommend them if you're looking for a company to do some printing, you do all your designing online, nice and quick and easy.

My friend Maria created the illustration for me. I think it works really well alongside my signature feather hairclip image. Cheers Maria, you little gorgeous star!

Runaway

Here's another headband I've created for the Bizarre Bazaar on Sunday. I'm so excited now. My business cards arrived today, they look amazing. I shall post some pics later when I'm satisfied with how much sewing I've got done today (yes, I'm slacking RIGHT NOW!)

I really don't know if I'll be able to part with this one. I've said before how besotted I am with circus chic and I really am obsessed with pom-poms, but the autumn leaf colours and the tortoise-shell headband all combine to drive me loopy! Oh well, there's always more pom-poms and there's always more headbands....but I do want this one.

Flutterby

Found out today I will be having a stall at the Bizarre Bazaar in Dewsbury on Sunday as part of the festival in Crow Nest Park, very VERY exciting stuff. I've been waiting to hear back if my application had been accepted for a while now, and I've got less than a week to crack on with making stuff to fill a 10ft stall (my biggest yet!) Here's a couple of alice bands I whizzed up this afternoon. I've also made one with a cluster of autumnal coloured pom-poms, which I'm going to find hard to let go! Ordered some fancy business cards today too but they won't be arriving until next wednesday, poop :(
Exciting times for Truly Scrumpy. Onwards and upwards!

Roary

Roary- the latest edition to my sock friend family, now consisting of Zebra-san, Mr Bungle and Colonel Mustard. They will be joining me at a vintage and craft fair at Bar Up in Halifax tomorrow, from 1pm. Come and see if you're about :) Over and out.

Adios

From Sunday, I shall be basking in the sun in the lovely Lake District, home of Beatrix Potter, so won't be blogging for a few days. Hope it stays good weather, or I'll be playing rounders in the rain with a group of strange campers. Woop! Until then my friends, adieu.

Zebra-san and Nameless

Here are my latest creations: Zebra-san and....anonymous fanged bunny-chan. I'm working on getting that perfect balance between sugary sweet cuteness and slightly odd freakyness. Working? I'm still thinking of a name for Mr Bunny, something ironic like 'Snuggles' is in order I believe. Any suggestions? These little creatures will be on sale in Halifax next Saturday and hopefully (crossing every extremity I own) I'll be making some more for the Bizarre Bazaar in Dewsbury's Crow Nest Part on 18th, providing my entry is accepted. They are anticipating a turn out of in excess of 8000 people. Yes, THOUSAND! Exciting times for 'Truly Scrumpy', exciting times.